Butt seam joints for sheet material and the like



Aag; 4, 1959 F. K. HUBNER 2,897,567

BUTT SEAM JolNTs FOR SHEET MATERIAL AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 28, 1955 4 Sheets-sheet 1 Au@ 4, 1959 F. K. HUBNER 2,897,567

BUTT SEAM JOINTS FOR SHEET MATERIAL AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 2s, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 2 f Aug. 4, 1959 F. K.A HUBNl-:R 2,897,567

BUTT SEAM JOINTS FOR SHEET MATERIALQAND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 28. 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Flai. F|G.5 7"- 12 7 12 l 8 V W fr 6 Il l. 6]l r F. K. HBNER Aug. 4, 1959 BUTT SEAM JOINTS FOR SHEET MATERIAL AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 28, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGS BUTT SEAM .l OINT S FOR SHEET MATERIAL AND 'EI-m LME Franz Karl Hbner, Malmo, Sweden Application December 2,8, '1955, Serial No. 555,991 Claims priority, application Sweden October 6, 1955 3 Claims. (Cl. 243-205.115)

The present invention is a development and improvement of a butt seam joint type of connection for thin sheet metal and the like which is known from German Patents 660,596 and 701,683. In a butt seam joint type of connection such as disclosed therein at locking members are provided on pivots which are pivotally mounted on two sheet metal pieces or the like adjacent the margins to be united with each other, and each locking member has a projection which is directed radially outwardly from the pivot aXis and provided with two hooks which are disposed in such a way that each hook on one of the Alocking members on one sheet metal piece engages around the nearest hook of one of the locking members located in staggered relation to those on the other sheet metal piece. The locking members are each disposed on a pivot secured to the metal sheet or to a special carrier strip secured thereto; that pivot is provided with a head located outside the respective locking member and having an annular groove for guiding a locking and opening slide which is displaceable along the line of connection. ln order to make the locking members pivot into and out of engagement with each other respectively to engage and disengage the connection, each locking member is provided with a driver iinger which is bent at an angle and which can slide in either of two curved guide grooves in the slide, thus swinging the locking member through 90 at the displacement of the slide along the line of connection.

It is an object of the invention to provide butt seam joint means for sheet metal and the like affording improved safety of the joint, an increased power transmitting capacity of the connection, and improved and safer operation in comparison with previous butt seam joints of the above kind.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings showing an embodiment chosen by way of example of the device according to the invention.

Fig. l is a plan view of a butt seam joint according to the invention on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof,

Fig. 3 shows. some pivoted locking members included in the butt seam joint on a still larger scale, and in positions which they can occupy in relation to each other in the joint,

Figs. 4 and 5 are views of one of the locking members and its pivot, as seen from two lateral directions perpendicular to each other.

Fig. 6 is a section on line VI-VI of Fig. 4,

Figs. 7 and 8 are a plan and a lateral view, respectively, of a detail.

Fig. 9 is a view from the underside of a slider serving to lock and unlock the joint,

Fig. 10 shows the slider as seen from the side and provided with a handle,

Fig. ll is a cross section through the slider.

The butt seam joint shown in Figs. l and 2 comprises two straight strips l ofY sheet material, e.g. of steel, aluminium, brass or non-metallic material, such as a Patented Aug. 4, 1959 suitable plastic, which strips are punched, in order that they may be bent in soft curves, in such a way that the remaining material runs a zigzag course. These strips are intended to be iixed, e.g. by riveting, to the marginal portions of two metal sheets or the like which are to be connected to each other, the strips being provided for that purpose with rivet holes 2. Each strip 1 is provided with a series of fiat locking members 3 of metal, plastic or the like, whichV are each pivoted about a pivot stem 4 of the same material riveted to the respective strip. The locking members have a projection 5, as is particularly apparent in Fig. 3, which is directed radially from the pivot axis and is provided with two hooks 6 facing in opposite directions. These hooks serve to lock the locking members 3 together, each hook on one of the locking members 3 on one metal sheet 1 engaging the adjacent hook 6 on one of the two locking members 3 which are disposed in staggered relation to said first locking member on the other strip, as is shown in respect of two of the locking members in Fig. 3. Diametrically opposite the projection 5 each locking member 3 is provided with a driver linger 7 projecting perpendicularly therefrom and intended to be actuated by a slider described below in order to turn the locking member through between its locking and unlocking positions. O11 each locking member 3 there is. disposed a resilient leaf member 8 which has an aperture 8a engaging around the pivot 4 and a lateral recess 8b in the margin gripping the driver linger 7, so that the leaf member is caused to take part in the turning movement of the locking member. The pivot stem 4 is formed with an upper enlarged portion 4 above the locking member 3. lThis portion is of an elongated cross-sectional conguration with flattened sides and is bevelled vertically at 4, as shown in Fig. 4. The leaf member 8 is slightly arch-shaped, as seen in Figs. 4 and 8, and formed with two opposite depressed portions 8c cooperating with said enlarged portion 4 of the pivot stem 4. The member 8 will thereby be able to retain the locking member in either of the locking and unlocking positions. This function is particularly pronounced in the unlocking position, where the leaf member 8 engages the sides of the stemk portion 4' in a non-tensioned condition, as is desirable in order that all locking members may then occupy the correct position for engagement by the above-mentioned slider with all driver fingers 7 after each other at the movement of the slider along the joint as will be more fully described below. As is easily realized, this makes it easy to achieve a considerably improved operational safety of the joint because obstacles to the locking, kwhich are due to the locking members occupying different angular positions, are avoided without difficulty. The locking members may be turned into the locking position, however, by overriding the resistance oifered by said leaf members.' The projection 5 having hooks 6 on each locking member 3 also has two pairs of recesses, of which one 9 in each pair is located at one side of one of the hooks, whereas the other one 10 is located at the opposite side of the portion of the projection 5 which lies inside the hooks. In the locking position, in which the hooks engage each other in pairs, as has been explained above, each hook also engages inwardly above the said portion of the projection 5 on that locking member `with one of whose hooks it cooperates, with'the recesses 9 and 10 facing each other. Through this design it is achieved that each locking member is supported by the locking members situated on both sides thereof against forces acting perpendicularly to the plane of movement of the locking members, i.e. to the plane of the strips 1.

The enlarged portion 4' of each pivot stem 4 is terminated at its top by a head 12 which is also of elongated form-with flattenedl -sidesextendingfin the direction'of the edge to be jointed, andI curved end portions, said sides and end portions being defined by edge faces 13.

The pivots 4 are mounted with the said parallelv sides ofiitheheads inalignment andparallel withy the joint line. The resultof this arrangement is that the edge faces 13 offsaid parallel sides will serve as guides for a slider by which the jointv is locked and unlocked, as described below, for a larger part ofthe length of the joint than would circular pivot heads.

The slider already mentioned for locking and unlockingthe joint is shown in Figs. 9 to 11.v It is made in one Vpiece 14 `ofcast metal orpossibly plastic and hasv on one of its sides two parallel guiding grooves 15 forA receiving the heads 12 on the pivots 4. These guidingV grooves aredelined by rails 16 and 17 provided on theslider, said rails engaging under the heads 12 and cooperating with the edge faces 13, whereby they guide the movement of the slider along the two rows of pivots 4. The slider 14 has two further parallel grooves 18 formed in the bottom 'of the grooves 15 for receiving the driver iingers 7' on the locking members 3, the ends ofthe grooves 18 being broadened at 19 and 20 to form entrances for the driver fingers 7. The entrances 19-V are curved softly through 90 towards the sides ofthe slider 14 in order that at the movement of the slider in the lunlocking direction (downwardly in Fig. l) they may impart to the driver fingers 7 such a movement that the locking members 3 are swung through 90 to the locking position. The entrances 20,-however, are straightvv but Haring.

The slider 14 has a handle 21 which is articulated and displaceably connected therewith by means of a back ange 22 on the slider with a longitudinal slot 23 in which the guide pin of the handle is guided. This arrangement facilitates the operation of the slider, partioularly where'thesheet metal pieces to be jointed have curved surfaces.

Assuming that the -joint is in an unlocked condition, with the strips 1 of sheet metal placed in edgewise abutting relation and the slider 14 .situated at one end of the joint, at the bottom of Fig. 1, the slider is moved upwards in -Fig. l, the path of movement being positively defined by Vthe grooves 15 engaging around the heads 12'of the pivots 4y as described above.

the position shownV in the upper part of Fig. l by the resilient leaf members 8 will then enter the grooves 18 through the entrances 20. Whenreaching the entrances 19' the fingers 7 will be caused to swing through 90, and the locking members 3 will assume the position shown inthe lower part of Fig. 1 in which the hooks 6 engage each other.

What I claim and desire to secure by-Letters Patent is:

1. Af butt seam joint for pieces of sheetmaterial, comprising a row of pivot -members each including a stem and a head and mounted on each of said'pieces by means ofsaid stem adjacent andl in Xed relation to theiedge to be jointed, the stem of each pivot member `including an upper enlarged portion terminated by said head, flat locking members pivotally-mounted one around the-stem of eachfof said pivot members tobe capable of a turning movement through 90 between locked and unlocked positions, hook means on'said locking members, said hook means on each locking member in one row interengaging in the said lockedV positionwith said hook means on two adjacent locking members `in the other row located in` staggered relation'to the locking members insaid one row, a resilient leaf member positionedv around the stem of each ypivot 'member and engaged by the associated locking member to turnpositively there- 'with about said stem, said leaf member cooperating with said enlarged stemportio'n to hold saidlocking member in the unlocked position thereof, and slidingmeanssupported-"and guided by the heads of said pivot members The driverV fingers 7on the locking members 3 which 4are held in Y prising a row of pivotV members each including a stem and a head andl mounted on each of said pieces by means of said stem adjacent and in fixed relation to the edge to be jointed, the stem of each pivot member including-an upper enlarged portion terminated by said head, at locking members pivotally mounted one around the stem of each of said pivot members to be capable of a turning movement through between locked and unlocked positions, hook` means on said locking members, said hook means on each locking member in one row interengaging in the said locked position with said hook means on two adjacent locking members in the other row located in staggered relation to the locking members in said one row, a resilient leaf member positioned around the stem of each pivot member Aand engaged Iby the associated Ilocking member to turn positively therewith about said stem, said leaf member cooperating with said enlarged stem portion to hold said locking member inthe unlocked position thereof, sliding means supportedand guided by the heads of-said pivot members and capablevof being moved along said edges, and means on each locking member for engagement in guiding grooves provided in said sliding means for causing said turning movement towards the locked position of said member when moving said sliding means in one direction and for causing said turning movement-towards the unlocked position of said member when moving said sliding means in the other direction.

3. A butt seam joint for pieces of sheet material, cornprising a row of .pivot members each including a stem and a headand mounted on each of said pieces -by means of said stem adjacent and in fixed relation to the edge to bejointed, the stem of each pivot member including an upper enlarged-portion terminated lby said hea-d,.said

enlarged portionY and said head-being of elongated cross- `sectional -form with attened sides extending in the direction of said edge to be jointed, fiat locking members pivotally mounted one around the stem of each of-said pivot members to be kcapable of la turning movementk through 90? between locked and unlocked positions, hook means on said locking members, said hook means on each locking member in one row interengaging in the said locked position with said lhoo-k means on two adjacent locking members in the other row located in staggered relation to f the locking members in said one row, a resilient leamem- `ber positioned around the stem of each pivot member and engaged by the associated locking member to turn positively -therewithabout said stem, .said leaf member cooperating with the ilattened` sides of said enlarged stern portion to hold said locking member in the vunlocked posi- -tion thereof, and sliding means supported and. guided by the flattened sides of the heads of said pivot members and capable of being moved along said edges in engagement with said locking members for causing said turning movement towards the locked position thereof whenmovedin one-direction and Vfor `causing saidturning movement towards the unlocked position thereof when moved in the other direction.

References Cited in the ile of this patent- UNITED STATES. PATENTS 2,119,996 Massholder June 7, 193s 2,371,309 Norton Mar. 13, 1945 2,495,033 Sullivan Ian. 17, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 101,795 Austria 1925 701,683 Germany 1941 

